College receives developmental approval for Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) from Georgia Board of Nursing

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The Georgia Board of Nursing (GBON) granted developmental approval for the Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) program at Savannah Technical College. Developmental approval grants the College permission to begin the development of an ASN program. Pending initial approval by GBON and Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), the first cohort of 24 students will begin in January 2025.

Visit this link for FAQ about competitive selection and details about ASN approval.

The College plans to host this program at its Effingham Campus in a new Nursing/Science lab addition, projected to be complete prior to fall semester 2024. The proposed program will have a competitive selection process, which will include requirements of specific core courses, entrance exam and other criteria. Priority selection will be given to in-state students as well as those with a Georgia military affiliation.

Graduates of the Associate of Science in Nursing program are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Exam for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). The Savannah metro area had a skills gap of 3,173 for registered nurses in 2023.

Projected ASN timeline:

• March 2024         ASN competitive selection criteria determined
• Summer 2024     Georgia Board of Nursing site visit
• Fall 2024             ASN competitive selection deadline (TBD)
• Spring 2025        First ASN cohort

The Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) program, once approved at Savannah Technical College, will prepare graduates to provide quality patient care through academic and occupational knowledge attained throughout their program of study. The College has selected Vickie Nylander, MSN, RN-BC, PCCN, as its Associate of Science in Nursing Program Director. 

The ASN program’s development is partially funded by the College’s Title III Predominantly Black Institution (PBI) grant, a five-year US Department of Education grant initially awarded in 2021. The College seeks to address both the shortage of registered nurses in the local workforce and the low participation of minority students in higher-level health science programs with funding from the PBI formula grant.

#2430 | February 22, 2024